For Carol Baker, the photogenic star of this unfaithful biopic (on Blu-ray)

Artistic Note: (3/5)

Synopsis

At just 17 years old, in 1928, Jean Harlow knocked on studio doors hoping to get a role. His mother and stepfather rely on him to bring home money. Her advantageous figure and platinum blonde hair earned her a number of offers, but the young woman did not compromise. She then meets impresario Arthur Landau, who vows to make her a huge star. Jean manages to apply herself by shooting burlesque sequences and eventually lands a contract with a major producer…

• Original title: Harlow
• Media tested: Blu-ray
• Genre: biopic, drama
• Year: 1965
• Director: Gordon Douglas
• Starring: Carroll Baker, Red Buttons, Raf Vallone, Angela Lansbury, Peter Lawford, Michael Connors, Martin Balsam, Leslie Nielsen
• Duration: 2 hours 05 minutes 09
• Video format: 16:9
• Cinema format: 2.35/1
• Subtitle: French
• Sound tracks: DTS-HD MA 1.0 monophonic English, French
• Bonus: original trailer (3 min 21)
• Publisher: Carlotta Films

Interpretation of art

Harlow, platinum blonde One of two biopics directed by Gordon Douglas in 1965, Platinum Blonde Jane Harlow, a legendary and short-lived Hollywood star of the 1930s. Indeed, Alex Segal directed actress Carol Lynley that same year. Harlow Written by Karl Thunberg. Gordon Douglas’ version, starring Carol Baker and adapted from a biography co-written by Irving Shulman and Arthur Landau, is hardly more faithful to reality, omitting or altering many facts. The number of original characters depicted in the film is very limited: the actress (Carroll Baker), her mother Jean Bello (Angela Lansbury), her stepfather Marino Bello (Raf Vallone) and her agent Arthur Landau (Red Buttons). So her movies are never quoted outright, the movies mentioned are all fiction, Paul Byrne’s impotence is still discussed, her three husbands are forgotten, and the harmful influence of her mother (at the end of the actress’s life), her fan Christian Science promoting faith healing, was completely ignored This film is therefore more a fiction about the film industry of the 1930s than an accurate reconstruction of the artist’s life. His portrayal is the best asset besides the star cast Harlow, platinum blonde He tries to “uncover” the backstage of the “Hollywood ghost machine”. A classic, this misfit biopic is especially true to the cast, especially Carroll Baker, lavishly dressed by Edith Head, who gives a very fitting performance and deserves to be seen alone. Based on the heightened sexuality of the subject, this biopic is typical of Hollywood productions of the 60s and rather watered down interpretations. But some scenes Harlow, platinum blonde Take some measure in the context of #MeToo. And if the film is certainly not the faithful biopic of Jean Harlow (who gave her Norma Jean moniker to Marilyn Monroe) always hoped for, it at least reveals Hollywood’s ability to brazenly reinvent the lives and personalities of its stars…

Technical Commentary

Image : HD copy, good detail and sharpness, homogeneous film texture (shot on 35mm with Panavision cameras, Master Format 2K), clean image, very good contrast control both outdoors and indoors, clear lighting, deep blacks, colorimetry that shines with warm color selection, bright colors and saturated tones

His : English 1.0 monophonic mix, clear dialogues without distortion, good dynamics favoring atmosphere and music by Neal Hefti; VF 1.0 monophonic, clear, dynamic, neat dubbing, but old and quite artificial

Our opinion

Image: (4/5)
Sound mixes: (3/5)
Bonuses: (0.5/5)
Packaging: (2.5/5)

IMDb : https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059252/

Blu-ray is available on Amazon

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